West Highland Way - Day 2
Cashell Farm Campsite to the wild campsite at Inversnaid via Ben Lomond
Distance 31.4km. Climb 1465m
Sunday 15 March 2009
I thought to myself I have been away from home as long as this before the only difference with today was that now when I would be normally heading home I needed to walk on. I had worked out I was about 23 miles in, about a quarter of The Way without Ben Lomand and Ben Nevis and I was only just starting day 2. So I felt quite pleased with myself.
The WHW takes you up the road before leaving the road at Sallochy when I was stopped by a young lad in a car. He asked me directions to Ben Lomond, I said that was were I was heading and it was just up the road, with that he thanked me and drove off. For one second I thought he could have given me a lift. Then I realised what was I thinking about? I would have refused a lift anyway as I wanted to walk all of The WHW? It would have taken him less than 10 mins but walking the route of The WHW took about 1 hour.
It was not far past here I got my first glimpse of Ben Lomond. It would be another 40 mins before I started walking up it. It was 0920.
The carpark at the visitors centre was full but again the visitor centre was closed.
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| First view of Ben Lomond |
I had planned to leave my large bag at the bottom of Ben Lomond, as I thought why carry it all the way up to carry it all the way down. So after taping my toes up, as they had started to rub and hiding my big bag in a place no one would look I set off with my camelpack a chocolate bar, some boiled sweets and my lucky stick.
Near the summit you could not move for the crowds many hogging the summit despite it being cold and not having much of a view for the low cloud and mist. A few steps down from the top you could see across the whole of Loch Lomond. I could not understand why the people did not move off the summit, into shelter and have a better view.
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| Can you spot the big bag I left at the bottom of Ben Lomond |
On the way up I passed a number of people. A couple of lads stand out in my mind they were dying for a cigarette but did not have a light, they were resting just past a snowed area. They were still happy despite the cold and wearing thin clothes and trainers.
Near the summit you could not move for the crowds many hogging the summit despite it being cold and not having much of a view for the low cloud and mist. A few steps down from the top you could see across the whole of Loch Lomond. I could not understand why the people did not move off the summit, into shelter and have a better view.
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| Top of Ben Lomond |
On the way down I passed a fell runner on his way up, I was not hanging about, I was motoring, once I picked up my bag, I had a banana and set off on The WHW again. I stopped at Rowardennan Lodge to fill up my camelpack. As I was walking past the Rangers House I got a shock when I saw the fell runner talking to someone, he was not out of breath no sign of distress not even sweating. He must have known a short cut, or was a very fit man.
Follow link to previous - Day 1 Milngavie to Cashell
Follow link to next - Day 3 Inversnaid to Auchtertyre
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| Rowardennan |
Anyway The WHW now took me along a road that was easy going, despite being a bit up and down in places. It was a road through a wood that follows by the side of Loch Lomond. It was along here I thought I saw a deer, as I reached for my camera I saw people in the distance and thought they must have spooked it. On a closer look it turned out to be a large yes very large brown dog. I had a short rest at Tom Wheldon’s seat which had the inscription that “Someone like you only happens once in a lifetime thank you for happening in ours.” What a nice thing to say about someone. When I returned home I checked on Google for Tom Wheldon, what a bloke he had been. Check it out yourself if you want.
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| View from Tom Wheldon's seat |
About 2 miles further on the track goes down to the lochside near a place called Callness. It was along from here I saw some wild goats quite happily munching on the grass, the photos I took of the goats unfortunately came out blurred. The goats here are totally different to the wild goats I have previously seen near Glenuig. They are larger and have longer horns. The path was turning into a little tricky track now, clambering over boulders and tree roots. It was just past where I saw the goats that the track levelled off near the waters edge. Here I saw a number of geese they looked quite fantastic and as the goats before them they were totally unconcerned about me.
Again the photo unfortunately does not show the geese but the light and the cloud formation over the loch is brilliant. Time was moving on and I was starting to become a little concerned about my next meal. I planned to stop at Inversnaid.
I saw some more goats but didn't get my camera out, all I wanted to do was find the hotel and get something to eat. Just next to the hotel is a lovely couple of waterfalls very picturesque.
One thing about this stretch of The Way I found quite unpleasant and that was after a while the noise of the traffic from the other side of the loch, motor bikes, and speeding cars was starting to become annoying, saying that, it did not stop me sleeping.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
Again the photo unfortunately does not show the geese but the light and the cloud formation over the loch is brilliant. Time was moving on and I was starting to become a little concerned about my next meal. I planned to stop at Inversnaid.
I saw some more goats but didn't get my camera out, all I wanted to do was find the hotel and get something to eat. Just next to the hotel is a lovely couple of waterfalls very picturesque.
It was about 1735 when I stopped at the Inversnaid Hotel, where I was greeted with a sign asking all walkers to go to the back door. At the same time one of the hotel staff opened the door and asked what I wanted, when I said food she directed me to the back door. The back door was locked so I left my bag and walked back round to the front. Once inside I was told there would be no food, strange as the hotel had at least 2 coaches full of guests, what were they eating? Anyway after saying this my face must have said it all and they said I could have a sandwich which then turned into a pie and chips then upgraded to a plastic container of fish and chips, for which I was very grateful.
While I was eating a number of guests came into the bar for a drink while waiting for their tables. They were escorted from the bar to their tables by a young Asian lad who was very self conscious of his appearance due to the kilt he was wearing and he kept pulling it down making sure it had not risen up at the rear. It was quite funny to see, poor lad. Anyway after a couple of shandy’s, a phone call home, I left the hotel walked around what turned out to be 6 coaches and thought why should walkers be made to use the back door. The front of the hotel is very grand perhaps that is why they don't want smelly dirty walkers at the front.
I made my way to the wild campsite about 500 meters down the Lochside. I had no problem setting up my tent in the dark and climbed into my sleeping bag. Once I was inside it started raining, It had been dry all day a little overcast at times but otherwise OK. I would leave writing up my notes until the morning. It had been a really good day even though I was hurting. I had calculated that on Saturday I was walking about 2.5 miles an hour, Sunday it went down to about 2 miles an hour, this was the pace I had calculated on doing anyway. I first calculated that I had covered 21 miles but on reflection it was more like 19.5 miles 31.4km with 1465m climb.
While I was eating a number of guests came into the bar for a drink while waiting for their tables. They were escorted from the bar to their tables by a young Asian lad who was very self conscious of his appearance due to the kilt he was wearing and he kept pulling it down making sure it had not risen up at the rear. It was quite funny to see, poor lad. Anyway after a couple of shandy’s, a phone call home, I left the hotel walked around what turned out to be 6 coaches and thought why should walkers be made to use the back door. The front of the hotel is very grand perhaps that is why they don't want smelly dirty walkers at the front.
I made my way to the wild campsite about 500 meters down the Lochside. I had no problem setting up my tent in the dark and climbed into my sleeping bag. Once I was inside it started raining, It had been dry all day a little overcast at times but otherwise OK. I would leave writing up my notes until the morning. It had been a really good day even though I was hurting. I had calculated that on Saturday I was walking about 2.5 miles an hour, Sunday it went down to about 2 miles an hour, this was the pace I had calculated on doing anyway. I first calculated that I had covered 21 miles but on reflection it was more like 19.5 miles 31.4km with 1465m climb.
One thing about this stretch of The Way I found quite unpleasant and that was after a while the noise of the traffic from the other side of the loch, motor bikes, and speeding cars was starting to become annoying, saying that, it did not stop me sleeping.
More to follow
Boz North
Details correct at time of walking.
If you have enjoyed reading my walk or found it useful you may also like to read other walks I have done on The West Highland Way or other areas. Please check out the links on the right hand side.
Follow link to previous - Day 1 Milngavie to Cashell
Follow link to next - Day 3 Inversnaid to Auchtertyre
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